Method of treating wood



Nov 21, 1933. BEIGER 1,936,183

METHOD OF TREATING WOOD Filed Aug. 1'7, 1951 I l A, 1 4

J02? W. Beigcv 21 a /h/s Z 7 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES METHOD OF TREATING WOOD John W. Beiger, Ludington, Mich., assignor to Carrom Company, Ludington, Mich.

Application August 17,

2 Claims.

The main object of this invention is to provide a method of treating wood for producing inlay and/or overlay effects which produces highly satisfactory results and at the same time may be easily and economically practiced.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The inventionis defined in the claims,

The manner of carrying out my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wood panel produced by my method.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevation in which the grain of the wood is indicated.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of. an apparatus for practicing my invention.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 1 illustrating the relation of the die plate to the work.

Fig.5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a reverse of the design of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing a modified form of detail.

In the accompanying drawing no attempt has been made to maintain the relative proportions of the parts.

The panel 1 has a raised design 2 thereon, the background portion 3 having a stained surface 4. This stained surface is shown very considerably exaggerated for convenience in illustration. It will be understood that in practice the stain would largely penetrate the wood.

The sheet or panel of wood, preferably a sheet of veneer, is arranged as indicated at-5 in Fig. 3 upon the bed 6 which has a steam chamber 7 therein. A Wire screen 8 is interposed between the bed and the sheet of veneer.

The die head 9 also has a steam chamber 10 therein and carries the die indicated at 11, the die, of course, having a suitable design 12 cut therein. The design may be very elaborate and delicate, if desired. v

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the bed is mounted on a hydraulic ram or press 13. The

die head is preferably reciprocatingly mounted so that it may be retracted into operative relation to a color applying roll 14 which is mounted in a color or stain tank 15. When the die head is reciprocated color is applied to the raised portion 16 or the die plate.

Upon the actuation of the press the color is brought into contact with the portions of the panel that are to be depressed and is simultaneously applied and embedded in the fiber as it is compacted. Substantial pressure is applied, preferably in the neighborhood of 150 to 200 pounds per square inch and the press is heated 1931. Serial No. 557,437

to from 200 degrees to 300 degrees F. The supporting screen 8 allows the escape of moisture from the under side of the panel so that the Work is uniform throughout, and relatively little time is required. If desired the panels may be varnished or lacquered after removing from the press.

The pressure compacts the fiber and changes the grain on the portions subjected to pressure so that they have a decidedly different appearance from the portions which are not subjected to pressure, thus producing the effect of overlays and inlays. Where desired the design may be made up of wire indicated at 1'7 in Fig. 6. This is found advantageous for certain types ofdesigns. I

By my new process I am able to very rapidly produce ornamental panels from veneer or other thin sheets of Wood and such panelsmay be used as facings for laminated veneer structures and walls or in various other relations. A very attractive imitation of overlay or inlay is very accurately simulated.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of producing overlay and/or inlay elfects in wood consisting of moistening a sheet or panel of wood veneer, arranging the moistened sheet or panel in superimposed relation to a wire screen disposed on a flat heated supporting bed, and subjecting to simultaneous heat and pressure between said supporting bed and a die plate having a raised design on the face thereof, such design having previously been coated with a stain whereby the design is impressed in the surface of the sheet and the fiber of the depressed portions compacted and changed in appearance from other portions of the sheet.

2. The method of producing overlay and/or inlay effects in wood, consisting of moistening a sheet or panel of wood veneer, arranging the moistened sheet or panel in superimposed relation to a Wire screen disposed on a heated supporting bed, and subjecting to simultaneous heat and pressure between said supporting bed and a die plate having a raised design on the face thereof, such design having previously been coated with coloring matter whereby the design is impressed in'the surface of the sheet and the fiber of the depressed portions compacted and changed in appearance from other portions of the sheet.

- JOHN W. BEIGER. 

